Isis Mining Barge

The Isis is a venerable Imperial Forgeworks design, used by the Terran Empire for years as a prisoner transport, converted medical ship, and munitions hauler - but it is most often seen in use as the single most prolific mining vessel in human space, named for the famous member of the Empire, and former third-in-command, Isis.

Service & Requisition
Isis Mining Barges can be seen in nearly every system in Empire space, and in several systems outside of Imperial control as well. It is technically only sold by Imperial Forgeworks to the Imperial Navy, but the Navy then retails these ships regularly to corporate interests, private merchants that can afford them, as well as Imperial Nobles. The Emperor himself has on occasion used upgraded versions of this very same vessel as transports for the Imperial Treasury.

The Isis-class has minor shielding and almost no weaponry, but the armor is thicker than even most military vessels of it's size. It is also a very large ship, which further adds to the relative impressiveness of the armor. While an Isis may not be a formidable opponent in battle, it takes a rather heavily-armed ship or a decent-sized fleet in order to have a relatively good chance of disabling or even damaging one.

In the case of private ownership, every Isis-class produces Φ50,000 per standard week. This can be further enhanced to Φ200,000 per week by purchasing Matriarch-class upgraded versions, but two Isis-class vessels must be owned to each Matriarch-class. Further enhancements of mining can be achieved through other means.

Isis-class Mining Barges are not available to the general public via wholesale, but can be purchased from the Imperial Navy at a nominal fee of Φ10,000,000. Members of the Imperial Nobility may purchase them slightly above manufacturing costs at Φ1,500,000 directly from Imperial Forgeworks. Each set of ten also requires a single Mining Charter to be purchased for the price of Φ10,000,000, of which one is automatically provided to all Imperial Nobles as a gift from the Emperor.

Statistics
Cost: Φ1,500,000 for Nobility, Φ10,000,000 for general public

Length: 683 meters

Detailed Crew: 5 Bridge Officers, 10 Staff Officers, 30 Guardsmen, 20 Technicians, 35 General Crew, ~400 Miners

Weaponry: Two Venator-class 5MW tachyon defense cannons

Top Impulse Speed: 0.10 Warp / 66,800,000 mph